Low pressure rotary valve diaphragm air pump



Sept. 22, 1964 s. H. NORTON 3,149,777

Low PRRssuRR ROTARY wma: DIAPRRAGM AIR PUMP Filed April 3 1961 3Sheets-Sheet l ifi.

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Sept. 22, 1964 s. H. NORTON 3,149,777

LOW PRESSURE ROTARY VALVE DIAPHRAGM AIR PUMP Filed April 3, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. bmue/ /Voran Y@ @WM @l MQ df@ A T'lHN. b'

Sept. 22, 1964 s. H. NORTON 3,149,777

Low PRESSURE ROTARY VALVE DIAPHRAGM AIR PUMP Filed April s, 1961 ssheets-sheet s IN VEN TOR.

Samuel h'. Norlan BY A ORNEYS United States Patent C) a corporation ofGhio Filed Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 100,178 13 Claims. (Cl. 2311-170) Thisinvention relates generally to pumps and more particularly relates to acombined double acting pump and valve mechanism for delivering largequantities of air at low pressure. Although the pump of the presentinvention is of general applicability, a particularly useful embodimentis provided when incorporated in a device for smog control known as anafterburner, as used on automobiles and other types of gasoline engines.

In this connection, it has been established that exhaust gases leftafter automobile engine combustion tend to cause smog in congested urbanareas. In order to eliminate such menace, it is contemplated by thepresent invention that such residual exhaust gases will be heated to atemperature capable of supporting combustion while providing air inproper volume to maintain combustion until the harmful gases aredestroyed. The pump provided to accomplish that end is used as a meansof supplying the required amount of air for combustion purposes,although the pump could have other uses independent of such anorganization since the pump would be useful in any organization whereinlow pressure and high volume is needed, as, for example, in spraypainting machines and in certain types of gas pumps.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air pump thatwill deliver a large volume of air at low speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pump with quietvalves without the clatter of poppet and flapper type valves.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pump which iseconomical to produce and which can be constructed of small componentsrelative to the air moving capacity and which is made of a reducednumber of parts affording long life with minimum maintenance.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pump thatwill pump air contaminated with foreign particles without injuring thepumping mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pump which willnot require oil in the pumping chamber to lubricate the pumping means asis required in a piston or other type pump, thereby to keep oil out ofthe air which is to be used to promote combustion of the exhaust gasesalready heavy with unburned hydrocarbons.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump which can bereadily and conveniently installed on an automobile engine in connectionwith a so-called automative afterburner.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a pump mechanism thatis well balanced and free from excessive Vibration.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanyingsheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment of theinvention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE l is a cross-sectional view taken on line I-I of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line II-II of FIGURE 3;

Patented Sept. 22, 1964i- ICC FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view takenon line III-III of FIGURE l;

FlGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the pump of FIGURES l-S; and

FIGURE 5 is a view generally similar to FlGURE l but showing analternative embodiment of the present invention with the top diaphragmbearing removed and a longer lower bearing substituted.

As shown on the drawings:

The fluid displacement means of this pump is primarily a diaphragm 1which is clamped at its outer extremity between an upper housing Z and alower housing 3. Its inner edges are clamped between an upper drivingplate It and a lever plate shown at 5.

The upper and lower housings Z and 3 are clamped together by suitablefasteners such as screws 6, while the inner parts including the upperdriving plate 4 and the lever plate 5 are clamped together by suitablefastening means such as the screw 7, thereby holding the diaphragm.

Since the diaphragm extends across the hollow interior of the casingformed by the upper and lower housing parts, the pumping cavityprescribed by the casing is partitioned into an upper pumping chamber 12and a lower pumping chamber 13. Thus, upon reciprocation of thediaphragm 1, portions of the diaphragm, as indicated at 8, will flex asthe diaphragm is moved up and down and displaces air irst in the upperpumping chamber 12 and then in the lower pumping chamber 13.Accordingly, the pump develops a double pumping action.

In order to impart the necessary reciprocation to the diaphragm 1,suitable actuating means are provided including a slide yoke 9 supportedin a bearing 11i in the upper housing 2 and by a bearing 11 in the lowerhousing 3. The diaphragm plates 4 and 5 are clamped to the slide yoke 9by a nut 1li.

The actuating means further comprise a crank 15 carried on a valve shaft16. The crank 15 is connected to the slide yoke 9 by a connecting rodshown at 17 and a wrist pin 18. The connecting rod 17 has a cap 19 tofacilitate its assembly.

In order to afford splash lubrication of moving parts7 a crank casechamber 20 is formed within the casing and carries oil, as shown at 21,filled to a level determined by an oil level plug 24 located in one wallof the chamber 20.

A bellows 22 is clamped between the plate 4 and the slide yoke 9 at itsupper end and is anchored in the lower housing 3 by a snap ring 23.Thus, oil is sealed out from the pumping chamber 13. The crank casechamber Ztl is vented through a vent pipe 25 located in an upper sidewall of the oil chamber. A cap 26 covers the open side of the casingextending into the crank case.

In order to center and anchor the diaphragm 1, a bead 27 is molded ontothe outer periphery of the diaphragm 1 and a bead 28 is provided on itsinner periphery. Corresponding recesses are formed in the casing aud thelever plate 5.

The crank and valve shaft 16 is supported on each end by a ball orroller bearing 29 at one end and 30 on the opposite end. The shaft 16 isalso provided with a snug running fit in the lower housing 3 on eachside of the crank case chamber 20.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the valveshaft 16 is formed with four semicircular or segmental peripheralgrooves, two on each side of the crank cavity, or crank case chamberZtl. The four grooves are identified at 31, 32, 33 and 34.

Between the two grooves 31 and 32 on the one side of the pump, there isprovided a complete or peripherally continuous annular groove 35. Asimilar peripherally continuous groove 36 is formed on the opposite sideof the pump between the two grooves 33 and 34.

A tapped inlet port 39 is formed in the casing in communicating registerwith the peripherally continuous groove 35, while a tapped outlet port4@ is formed in the casing in communicative register with theperipherally continuous groove 36.

The lower pumping chamber 13 has two openings, 42 on the left and 41 onthe right, using the orientation of the drawings presented herewith.Such openings or holes register with the segmental groove 32 on the leftand with the segmental groove 33 on the right approximately eachone-half revolution of the crank and valve shaft 16.

In like manner, the upper pumping chamber 12 has an opening Ml on theleft and an opening i3 on the right.

By means of a hole 45, as shown in FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 4, the opening413 in the upper housing 2 is carried down at an angle to register withthe segmental groove 34. Also, the other opening ill in the upperhousing 3 is led down to register with the segmental groove 31 during ahalf revolution of the shaft 16.

A longitudinal slot 37 formed in the shaft 16 connects the slots 31 and32 to the peripherally continuous slot or groove 35. In like manner, alongitudinally extending slot or passage 38 connects the slots orgrooves 33 and 34 with the peripherally continuous slot or groove 36.There is thus formed a series of inlet passages and outlet passages.

in order to rotatively drive the crank and valve shaft 16, a pulley 46is keyed by a key 47 and a screw 4S to the shaft 16. The pulley 46 willbe driven by a pulley belt as a portion of the accessory drive from theengine of the automotive vehicle.

ln operation, the action of the rotary valving on the pump can beclearly followed upon considering the action of the valve grooves orslot through one revolution of the shaft 16, as driven by the pulleywheel 46.

If the shaft 16 is turned in the direction of the arrows as shown in thedrawings, the diaphragm 1 will be raised compressing air in the upperchamber 12. However, it will be noted that the upper chamber 12 is openthrough the holes 43 and 45 to the segmental slot or groove 34 on theshaft 16. The groove 34 is connected to the peripherally continuous slotor groove 36 by the passage 3S which, in turn, is in communicativeregister with the outlet e@ at all times so the air in the upper pumpingchamber 12 will be forced through 53, 4S, 34 and out the opening 40.

At the same time, air in the lower pumping chamber 13 is in a vacuumstate, but the lower pumping chamber 13 has an opening 42 which is opento the segmental groove 32 connected to the peripherally continuous slotor groove 35 communicating with the inlet port 39, thus allowing air toenter into the lower pumping chamber 13 to replace the vacuum.

As the crank continues to rise until it is on upper dead center, thediaphragm 1 will raise and force all of the air out of the upper pumpingchamber 12 and will have filled the lower pumping chamber 13. Then, asthe crank 15 passes top center, the ends of the segmental slots orgrooves 34 and 32 will pass the openings 45 and 42, thereby closing thesame. At the same time, the segmental grooves 33 and 31 will have theiropen ends pass or open into the opening 41 and the end of the opening414 corresponding to the opening 415 at the other end of the shaft 16.

As the shaft continues to turn in the direction of the arrows, the airin the upper pumping chamber 12 will become rareed and air will besucked into that chamber though the opening 44, the groove 31 and theport 39. Thus, air in the lower pumping chamber 13 will be compressedand forced out of the opening 41 in the groove 33 which has turned to beopen to the hole or opening 41. The air then passes through the slot 38to the peripherally continuous slot or groove 36 and out through theport 4i).

The registering of the open end of the segmental grooves 34 and 33 isretarded with respect to the open ings 41 and 45 so that pressure willbuild up in the pumping chambers until it equals the back pressure inthe air storage tank which may be associated with this system,otherwise, the air would surge into the pumping chambers until thepressure in the chambers equaled that in the tank. In this connection,it may be understood that in an automotive organization, as hereincontemplated by way of illustrative example, the port 40 may beconnected by suitable piping to a storage tank or directly to anafterburner combustion chamber, while the port 39 is open to theatmosphere, or to a filter tank.

To facilitate fastening of the pump to a vertical support, an auxiliarybracket 49 secured to the lower housing 3 by screws t) and 51 isprovided. It will be understood that other shapes and types of bracketscan be attached to the lower housing 3 by screws Si) and 51 for avariety of mounting requirements, as may occur in different automotiveapplications, for example.

it will be appreciated that the slot 43 in the upper housing Z mightpermit the diaphragm 1 to raise up into the slot or groove if arectangular plate shown at 55 were not inserted into a complementalrecess provided t0 position the plate 55 and to hold the diaphragm 1down tightly against the lower housing 3.

ln FlGURE 5, an alternative embodiment of the present invention isillustrated wherein the top vertical projec tion of the yoke 9 has beenremoved and a longer bearing 52 has been added. Also, `the embodiment ofFIGURE 5 differs from the structure already described in that thebellows 22 may be removed and a packing or O-ring 54 placed between thebearing S2 and the yoke 53, thereby cutting down the size and expense ofmaking the pump.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in theart, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope ofthe patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably andproperly come within the scope of my contribution to` the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A pump comprising upper and lower housing members together forming acasing having a lower crank case and an upper pumping chamber, adiaphragm extending across said pumping chamber dividing the interiorthereof into rst and second pumping chambers, a slide yoke connected tosaid diaphragm, bearing means in said casing supporting said slide yokefor reciprocation, a crank connected to said slide yoke and extendinginto said crank case, and a rotary shaft extending through Said crankcase and connected to said crank to drive said pump upon rotation ofsaid shaft, said shaft having plural partial grooves formed in theperiphery thereof at spaced longitudinal intervals and at least some ofsaid grooves being at different angular alignment, said casing having aninlet and an outlet, said shaft having a continuous peripheral grooveformed therein for the inlet and for the outlet, said casing havingopenings periodically communicating said rst and second pumping chamberswith first and second sets of said plural partial grooves upon rotationof said shaft, and passage means formed in said shaft communicating saidfirst and second sets of said plural partial grooves respectively withsaid continuous grooves, whereupon rotation of said shaft will operatesaid diaphragm to pump air from said inlet to said outlet with a doubleacting operation.

2. In a pump, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a cylindrical borein said casing intersecting said inlet and said outlet, a shaftrotatable in said bore having a pair of peripherally continuous groovesin respective regsiter with said inlet and said outlet, a first pair ofsegmental peripheral grooves in said shaft on opposite sides of thecontinuous groove on the inlet side of the pump, a second pair ofsegmental peripheral grooves in said shaft on the opposite sides of thecontinuous groove on the outlet side of the pump, a crank arm connectedto an intermediate portion of said shaft, said casing having a pumpingcavity formed therein adjacent said bore, a diaphragm extending acrosssaid pumping cavity and partitioning the chamber into first and secondpumping chambers, a slide yoke slidably carried in said casing connectedto said crank arm and to said diaphragm, thereby to reciprocate saiddiaphragm for developing a double acting pumping action, passages formedin said casing extending from each pumping chamber to a correspondingsegmental groove, whereby the pumping cham bers are alternatelycommunicated with said inlet and said outlet.

3. A double acting pump comprising a diaphragm, casing means forming apumping chamber on each side of said diaphragm, an inlet and an outletfor each pumping chamber, an inlet port and an outlet port for said pumpformed in said casing means, and valving means sequentiallycommunicating said inlets and said outlets with said ports, and a commonactuating means to reciprocate said diaphragm and operate said valvingmeans, thereby to develop a double pumping action.

4. A pump comprising a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, acylinder formed in said casing and having a rotary shaft therein, meansforming circumferentially continuous grooves between said shaft and saidcasing at said inlet port and at said outlet port, said shaft havingsegmental peripheral grooves formed therein, there being one groove oneach side of each of said continuous grooves, passage meanscommunicating each continuous groove with a corresponding adjacent pairof said segmental grooves, and a double acting tiuid pumping meansoperatively connected to and actuated by said rotary shaft upon rotationthereof, said pumping means including separate pumping chambers eachhaving an inlet opening and an outlet opening communicating with acorresponding segmental groove, whereupon rotation of said shaft willdevelop a valving action for alternately opening and closing saidopenings to control the double acting pumping action.

5. A pump comprising a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, acylinder formed in said casing and having a rotary shaft therein, meansforming circumferentially continuous grooves between said shaft and saidcasing at said inlet port and at said outlet port, said shaft havingsegmental peripheral grooves formed therein, there being one groove oneach side of each of said continuous grooves, passage meanscommunicating each continuous groove with a corresponding adjacent pairof said segmental grooves, and a double acting fluid pumping meansincluding separate pumping chambers each having au inlet opening and anoutlet opening communicating with a corresponding segmental groove,whereupon rotation of said shaft will develop a valving action foralternately opening and closing said openings to control the doubleacting pumping action, said fluid pumping means including displacementmeans actuatingly driven by said shaft in synchronism with the valvingaction.

6. A pump comprising a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, acylinder formed in said casing and having a rotary shaft therein, meansforming circumfer'- entially continuous grooves between said shaft andsaid casing at said inlet port and at said outlet port, said shafthaving segmental peripheral grooves formed therein, there being onegroove on each side of each of said continuous grooves, passage meanscommunicating each continuous groove with a corresponding adjacent pairof said segmental grooves, and a double acting Huid pumping meansincluding separate pumping chambers each having an inlet opening and anoutlet opening communicating with a corresponding segmental groove,whereupon rotation of said shaft will develop a valving action foralternately opening and closing said openings to control the doubleacting pumping action. said fluid pumping means comprising a diaphragmhaving a pumping chamber on each side thereof, a slide yoke connected tosaid diaphragm 6. and a crank arm connected to said slide yoke andactuatingly driven by said shaft in synchronism with the valving action.

7. An automotive pump for delivering large quantities of air to anafterburner comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a shaftin said casing having a driving portion extending outside of saidycasing, a pulley wheei on said driving portionA adapted to be driven bythe engine accessory drive, said casing having a pumping cavity formedtherein, a diaphragm in said cavity partitioning the same into separatepumping chambers, a slidable yoke connected to said diaphragm and havinga crank connection to said shaft for reciprocatingv said diaphragm,passage means in said casing communicating with said pumping chambersand' with said inlet and said outlet, and valve rotary meansoperativelyactuated by said shaft in control of saidpassage means, thereby todevelop a double pumping action upon rotation of said shaft.

8. An automotive pump for delivering largel quantities of air to anafter burner, comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a shaftin saidcasing having a driving portion extending outside of said casing,a pulley wheel on said' driving portion adapted to be driven by anengine accessoryl drive, said casing having a pumping cavity formedtherein, a diaphragm partitioning said pumping cavity into separatepumping chambers, a slidable yoke connected tol said diaphragm andhaving a crank connection to said shaft for reciprocating saiddiaphragm, passage means communicating w-ith said pumping chambers andwith said inlet and said outlet, said casing having a cylindricall boreformed therein intersecting said inlet and said outlet, a shaftrotatable in said bore having a pair of peripherally continuous groovesin respective register with said inlet and said outlet, a first pair ofsegmental peripheral grooves in said shaft on opposite sides of saidcontinuous groove on the inlet side of the pump, a second pair ofsegmental peripheral grooves in said shaft on opposite sides of thecontinuous groove on the outlet side of the pump, said passage meanscommunicating with said pumping chambers and with said inlet and saidoutlet including said segmental grooves whereupon rotation of said shaftwill develop a valving action to control the double pumping action ofthe pump.

9. An automotive pump for delivering large quantities of air to anafterburner comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a shaftin said casing having a driving portion extending outside of saidcasing, a pulley wheel on said driving portion adapted to be driven bythe engine power take off, said casing having a pumping cavity formedtherein and a crank case portion adjacent thereto, a diaphragm in saidpumping cavity partitioning said cavity into separate pumping chambers,a slidable yoke connected to said diaphragm and having a crank extendinginto said crank case for connection to said shaft, whereupon rotation ofsaid shaft will reciprocate said diaphragm, passage means formed in saidcasing communicating with said pumping chambers and with said inlet andsaid outlet, and valve means operatively actuated by said shaft incontrol of said passage means, thereby to develop a double pumpingaction upon rotation of said shaft, said crank case being adapted tocarry oil for splash lubrication of moving parts, and a bellows clampedbetween said diaphragm and said slide yoke at one end and connected tosaid casing at the other end, thereby to seal out oil from the pumpingchamber.

l0. In a pump,

upper and lower housing parts having outer interengageable edge portionsand inner portions forming a casing having a hollow interior, adiaphragm having its outer periphery clamped between said edge portionof said upper and lower housing parts and dividing the hollow interiorof the casing into upper and lower pumping chambers, clamping means insaid casing and clamping the inner edges of the diaphragm, bearing meansin said casing, a slide yoke supported for reciprocation in said bearingmeans and connected to said clamping means, thereby to reciprocate saiddiaphragm,

and valve controlled passage means in said housing parts communicatingwith said upper and lower pumping chambers to develop a double pumpingaction upon operation of said diaphragm,

said bearing means comprising a bearing in said upper part and a bearingsleeve in said lower part, the slide yoke having a peripheral bearingsurface slidably engaging the bearing sleeve in the lower part on oneside of the diaphragm and a shaft extension having a bearing surfaceformed therein engaging the bearing in the upper part on the oppositeside of the diaphragm. 11. In a pump as dened in claim 10, saiddiaphragm having an integral bead on the outer and inner peripheriesthereof spaced inwardly of the corresponding edge,

said casing and said plate members being correspondingly recessed toreceive said beads, thereby to center and anchor the diaphragm.

12. In a pump as defined in claim 10, a sealing means between said lowerhousing member and said slidable yoke,

said lower housing having a crank case,

part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSRussell July 2, 1901 Richwood Feb. 7, 1905 Sleeper Apr. 14, 1914 DuncanNov. 14, 1916 Michelsen July 27, 1926 Vogt Feb. 18, 1930 Alvaz Sept. 3,1935 Wahlmark Aug. 15, 1939 Babitch Feb. 6, 1940 Carlson Aug. 19, 1941Gordy May 30, 1950 Geeraert Sept. 29, 1953 Browne Sept. 25, 1956 PaascheJan. 7, 1958 White Oct. 31, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS France of 1837Switzerland July 1, 1952

1. A PUMP COMPRISING UPPER AND LOWER HOUSING MEMBERS TOGETHER FORMING ACASING HAVING A LOWER CRANK CASE AND AN UPPER PUMPING CHAMBER, ADIAPHRAGM EXTENDING ACROSS SAID PUMPING CHAMBER DIVIDING THE INTERIORTHEREOF INTO FIRST AND SECOND PUMPING CHAMBERS, A SLIDE YOKE CONNECTEDTO SAID DIAPHRAGM, BEARING MEANS IN SAID CASING SUPPORTING SAID SLIDEYOKE FOR RECIPROCATION, A CRANK CONNECTED TO SAID SLIDE YOKE ANDEXTENDING INTO SAID CRANK CASE, AND A ROTARY SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGHSAID CRANK CASE AND CONNECTED TO SAID CRANK TO DRIVE SAID PUMP UPONROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, SAID SHAFT HAVING PLURAL PARTIAL GROOVES FORMEDIN THE PERIPHERY THEREOF AT SPACED LONGITUDINAL INTERVALS AND AT LEASTSOME OF SAID GROOVES BEING AT DIFFERENT ANGULAR ALIGNMENT, SAID CASINGHAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET, SAID SHAFT HAVING A CONTINUOUS PERIPHERALGROOVE FORMED THEREIN FOR THE INLET AND FOR THE OUTLET, SAID CASINGHAVING OPENINGS PERIODICALLY COMMUNICATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND PUMPINGCHAMBERS WITH FIRST AND SECOND SETS OF SAID PLURAL PARTIAL GROOVES UPONROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, AND PASSAGE MEANS FORMED IN SAID SHAFTCOMMUNICATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SETS OF SAID PLURAL PARTIAL GROOVESRESPECTIVELY WITH SAID CONTINUOUS GROOVES, WHEREUPON ROTATION OF SAIDSHAFT WILL OPERATE SAID DIAPHRAGM TO PUMP AIR FROM SAID INLET TO SAIDOUTLET WITH A DOUBLE ACTING OPERATION.